The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-20
OBITUARY.
Alexander Mitchell, Presidens of tho Chtca-
go, Milwaukee & Sc. Paul Railway.

Alexander Mitchell, President of tho Chtca-
go, Milwaukee s. Sc. Paul Railway.
New YORK, April 19-Alexander Mitchell,
president of the Chicago. Milwaukee & ST. Paul
railroad, died at $50 o'clock this afternoon at
the Hoffman House. where he has been stop
ping for the last two weeks. The immediate
cause of his death was the failure of action Of
the heart. Since December he had been stop
ping with his wife at Alexandriavilla, near
Jacksonville. Fla. When he came to this city
with his old friend. the Rev. Dr. Keene, of Mil
waukee, two weeks ago. he was enjoying unusu-
ally good health. For some time he has been
somewhat troubled from the impeded action of
his heart Last Wednesday evening he went
out. and afterwards had chill. He caught
severe cold. which developed into bronchial
pneumonia, and no doubt directly affected the
hearts action and caused death. The remains
have been embalmed, and will be taken to Mil
waukee in his private car. leaving the Grand
Central Depot about 6 P. M. tomorrow, and ar
irving at its destination at 2:30 P. NJ on Friday.
The death of Mr. Mitchell was both a surprise
and shock to his many friends in this city.
Although quite i'll since Friday night, no appre-
hension of a serious termination was felt by the
attending physicians, who were DR.. Mackie, of
Milwaukee, Dr. Bradley and DR.. Janeway. I'M
til II o'clock to-day. Many prominent railroad
men called at the hotel this afternoon. Among
others,were Walter S. Quincy, George ]. Seney
and Mr.. Bond, vice-presdent of the road; also.
a number of the board of directors, who will
hold a special meeting at the Office Of the COM
pany tomorrow. DIR. Keene to-day said that
the death of Mr.. Mitchell would be more severe
ly felt than that of almost any in the
Northwest. In this city he was widely known,
not only in railway and financial circles, but In
the social world. He was a member of the
Union Club and also of the Manhattan.
The arrangements for his funeral will not be
made till the arrival of the remains in Milwau-
kee He will be buried in the Forest Home Gem
etery. His wife will proceed direct from
Florida. where she is, to her home. MIR. John
Mitchell and his wife will accompany the body
of his father from New York.
A telegram from Chicago says that P. d. Ar
mour was asked this evening if he could state
who would be the probable successor of Alex
ander Mitchell as president of the Milwaukee &
st. Paul road. Mr.. Armour answered no, and
to the suggestion that he himself might be the
man, replied emphatically that he would not
accept The law requires that the president be
a resident OF Wisconsin. condition with which
Mr.. Armour would not comply. Neither would
l." said he. '.allow myself to take a position
which would entitle every holder of hundred
shares of st. Paul stock to be running into my
office inquiring why did not do this or why l
did not do that"
THE NEWS AT MILWAUKEE.
MILWAUKEE. April 19.--It was not until near
ly o'clock this afternoon that credence was
given to the news Of Alexander Mitcheil's death,
though rumors to that effect had been in circula-
ton since noon David Ferguson, cashier of
Mr.. Mitchelrs bank, who had been associated
with him for nearly half a century, was pros
trated by the news, and it was feared at first
that he would not recover, as he is Very feeble.
The crowds that gathered at the bank to make
inquiries as to his death were SO large that the
doors were closed early in the afternoon, and
guards stationed to admit none but intimate
friends. The first authentic dispatch came from
John l.. Mitchell, his son. who was reported to
be suffering from the malady that proved fatal
to his father, and came as a surprise even to the
bank officials, although it was known that he
was i'll. and that immediate relatives had been
summoned to his bedside last Saturday.
The gossip among merchants here is ceniered
principally about the successorship to the pres
iGency of the Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul
road and the presidency of the Marine and Fire
Insurance Bank, of which Mr.. Mitchell owned
niDety-nne of the one hundred shares. Mr..
Mitchells death led to the knowledge that he
had about completed arrangements to retire per-
manently from business by July l. transferring
the responsibility of his immense banking bust
jointly to his son. John l.. Mitchell, his
brother-in-law, John Johnston, and David Fer
guson, and stepping down from the presidency
of the ST. Paul road. This corporation, when
he first assumed its direction, owned less than
200 miles of road, and its rails now branch out
an aggregate of 5000 miles: 1t has been ru-
mored that the general offices of the road
would be removed to Chicago upon Mr..
Mitchelrs demise. The charter of the company.
however, stipulates their location in
Wisconsin and the president must also be a res
ident of this State. It is thought that John
Plankinton. of Milwaukee, Phil Armour. of
Chicago both of whom are heavily interested in
St Paul, will succeed Mr.. Mitchell. A magnlf-
cent residence, being built here for an unknown
owner, has been thought to be designed for Mr..
Armour, in anticipation of his succession to the
ST. Paul presidency thus establishing his resi-
dence here in conformity with the charter pro-
vision of the road.
Mr. Mitchell is survived by his wife, who is at
present at her Floridian villa: son. John L.,
and an adopted daughter, Mrs. DR.. Mackie, of
this city, and a sister and brother living IN Alb
erdeenshire, Scotland. Mr.. Mitchells estate is
variously estimated at from $4,000. 900 to $685.,
000, 900. It consists largely OF securities of va
rious kinds. as. outside his magnificent residence
on Grand avenue. the Chamber of Commerce
and Mitchell Bank buildings, he has compar-
atively small landed property. He is known to
have left will. 1t was made three years ago.
but B. X. Miller, who drew it up refuses to di-
yulge Its contents.
Mr. Mitchell was born in Aberdeen, Scotland,
in 1918. He came to this country and settled in
Milwaukee in 1889. He at once became identi-
fed with the Wisconsin Fire, Marine and Insur-
ance Bank. of which he was president In 1S49
he became connected with railroading, and later
was made president of the Chicago Milwaukee,
& ST. Paul railroad. In politics Mr. Mitchell
was Wing before the formation of the Repub-
lican party, and was aftsrward Republican.
He became, in 1866, a supporter of the admins
rration of Andrew johnson. and supported
Horatio Seymour for President in 1868 In 1870
he was elected a member of the lower house OF
Congress, aud was reelected in 1872 He after
wards declined further political service. and re-
turned to his business pursuits. In 1876 he was
jealous supporter of Samuel j. Tilden for
President, and it was we'll understood that. had
Mr. Tiden secured the presidency. Mr.. Mitchell
would have been Secretary of the Treasury. He
afterward declined all political service. In 1877
while he was in Europe. he was nominated by
the Wisconsin Democrats for Governor, but re-
fused to be candidate.
James II. Farrow.
| Special to the Indianapolis journal.
GREENcAsTtE, Ind, April 19.-James r. Far
row, one of the Oldest and most respected cti
| zens of Putnam county, died this morning at hi